Access to Elected Office Project

Access to Elected Office Research Project 2015-16

Over the year 2015-16, Inclusion Scotland is carrying out a major project to identify the barriers to disabled people’s participation in politics and make proposals for how to address these

The Access to Elected Office research project followed on from the success of the Parliamentary Internship Programme for disabled graduates. The project involved focused investigation within each of the five political parties represented in the Scottish Parliament, looking at existing access barriers and how these might be overcome. This research was conducted by disabled interns who were placed within the political parties and supported by Inclusion Scotland. Our interns were paid the Living Wage for the duration of their placements.

The objectives of the project were as follows:

improve understanding of the barriers to disabled people wishing to get involved in political parties and develop an innovative range of action that could address these barriers

carry out some small-scale pilots directly addressing barriers for a small number of disabled activists who are already engaged in political parties, and demonstrating the benefits and value of this work

explore the potential benefits and possible models for a Scottish version of the Access to Elected Office fund or similar, which would specifically work to support greater engagement by disabled people in seeking elected office in Scottish elections and contributing to political parties

investigate the potential value of creating an apolitical forum for all parties to discuss breaking down barriers to politics for disabled people

develop the confidence in political skills of a small group of disabled people during the course of the project, some of whom may go on to become leaders in further work to break down barriers

The findings of this research shaped our approach when delivering the Access to Elected Office Fund. The report and a summarised version of it are available to read here.